Supply module for passenger transport vehicles

• US 9,499,270 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Riedel, Christian, Fischer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeshaw, Esayas
• Application Number:
  US13/524,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20120292986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/47 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0693 Width modification of seat assemblies, e.g. for class modification
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0053 Cabin passenger reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/003 Cabin ventilation nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2241/00 NACA type air intakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A supply module is provided for a passenger transport vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a first supply unit for supplying passengers with a first supply medium in a first supply area and a second supply unit for supplying passengers with a second supply medium in a second supply area. Furthermore, the supply module includes, but is not limited to a control unit which is configured to activate the first supply unit in a first subregion of the first supply area and to activate the second supply unit in a second subregion of the second supply area, based on a predeterminable seating configuration.

Claims

1. A supply module for a passenger transport vehicle, the supply module comprising:

a first supply unit configured for a supply with a first supply medium in a first supply area;

an interface to an external system configured to receive a predeterminable occupancy situation;

a central control unit configured to save the predeterminable occupancy situation;

wherein the control unit is configured to centrally activate the first supply unit in a first subregion of the first supply area and in a second subregion of the first supply area based on the predeterminable occupancy situation; and

wherein the predeterminable occupancy situation is representative for a seating configuration in the passenger transport vehicle.

2. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first supply medium is visual information.

3. The supply module according to claim 1, the supply module further comprising:

a second supply unit configured for a second supply with a second supply medium in a second supply area; and

wherein the control unit is configured to activate the second supply unit in a second subregion of the second supply area based on the predeterminable occupancy situation.

4. The supply module according to claim 3, wherein the first supply area and the second supply area are configured for a substantial consistency.

5. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first supply unit comprises a display device that is configured to display symbols, pictographs, characters, videos or other items of information depending the predeterminable occupancy situation.

6. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first supply unit comprises at least one control surface that is configured to activate the at least one control surface depending on the predeterminable occupancy situation and to transmit an activation by a sensor.

7. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the supply module comprises an electronics unit with a storage element that is configured to store at least one predeterminable occupancy situation.

8. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first supply unit is an illumination unit that is configured to illuminate partial illumination areas based on the predeterminable occupancy situation.

9. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first supply unit comprises a projection unit that is configured as a miniature projection device and is configured to project image information with at least one activated partial illumination area.

10. The supply module according to claim 9,

wherein the miniature projection device comprises at least one light modulation element.

11. The supply module according to claim 7, wherein the electronics unit is arranged locally in the supply module and comprises the control unit in order to control at least one supply unit and one miniature projection device.

12. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the passenger transport vehicle is an aircraft.

15. The supply module according to claim 10, wherein the at least one light modulation element is a digital light processor (DLP) having a plurality of micromirrors.

16. The supply module according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor.

17. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first supply unit comprises at least one control surface that is configured to activate the at least one control surface depending on the predeterminable occupancy situation and to transmit an activation by an interactive touch surface.

18. The supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first supply unit comprises at least one control surface that is configured to activate the at least one control surface depending on the predeterminable occupancy situation and to transmit an activation by a scanner.

13. A method for operating a supply module for supplying occupants of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving data from an external system concerning a predeterminable occupancy situation, the occupancy situation being representative for a seating configuration in the passenger transport vehicle;

saving the predeterminable occupancy situation in a central control unit; and

centrally activating a first supply unit of the supply module for a supply with a first supply medium in a first subregion of a first supply area and in a second subregion of the first supply area based on the data.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, said computer program product comprising:

an operating program for operating a supply module for supplying occupants of a vehicle, the operating program configured to;

receive data from an external system concerning a predeterminable occupancy situation, the occupancy situation being representative for a seating configuration in the passenger transport vehicle;

save the predeterminable occupancy situation in a central control unit; and

centrally activate a first supply unit of the supply module for a supply with a first supply medium in a first subregion of a first supply area and in a second subregion of the first supply area based on received data.